John Weiss, MMQ, RSMT
Medical Qigong and Movement
Therapist and Teacher
Healing
Through
Movement
and
Meditation
MEDICAL QIGONG
TWELVE ENERGETIC CHANNELS
Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient practice that works with energy systems that flow along channels, meridians and collaterals. There are twelve many channels in the body that correspond to the ten main yin and yang organs of the body along with two additional areas (pericardium and triple warmers). These "rivers" of energy flow through the body to promote harmony and well being. When they don't pain, discomfort and possible disease prevail.
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The Yin Channels are for the energetic assistance of the following organs along with the systems they support. All of the main channels are bi-lateral within the body.
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Lungs: running from the upper chest/shoulder area down the arms to the thumb
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Kidneys: running from the centre, bottom of the feet up through the medial side of the legs, up the centre of the torso and finishing just below the collarbone.
Liver: running from lateral side of the big toe up through the medial side of the legs, up the lateral side of the torso to just below the breasts.
Heart: running from the armpits down the inside of the arm to the little finger.
Spleen: running from medial side of the big toe up through the medial side of the legs, up the lateral side of the torso, around the breast to the armpit crease.
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Pericardium: running from the just outside of the nipple, up around the armpit crease and down the centre line of the inside of the arm to the nail of the middle finger.
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The Yang Channels are for the energetic assistance of the following organs along with the systems they support. They also run bi-laterally through the body.
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Large Intestine: running nail of the index finger up the arm to the top of the shoulder, up the lateral side of the neck to the mouth and across the upper lip to the opposite-sided nostril.
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Urinary Bladder: running the inner canthus of the eye, across the top of the head and down the back to backs of the legs to the little toe.
Gallbladder: running from the outer canthus of the eye, meandering along the side of the head, down the lateral side of the body to the fourth toe.
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Small Intestine: running from the small finger, up the backside of the arm, zigzagging up the back of the shoulder and neck, up face to the cheekbone and finishing right in front of the ear.
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Stomach: running from directly beneath the eye, down to the corner of the mouth, circling around the jaw to the edge of the hairline on the forehead, jumping down to the side of the neck, across the collarbone, down the chest, through the nipple, the medial side of the torso and lateral sides of the legs to the second toe.
Triple Warmers: running from the nail of the ring finger, up the centre, outside line of the arm, to the elbow, up the back (tricep) of the arm, to the shoulder, side of the neck, around the ear and finishing at the lateral side of the eyebrow.